Hamilton woman going to Tree Climbing Champ.

(Update)

A Hamilton woman is the best tree climber in North America. As a result, she’s made it to the International Tree Climbing Championships in Wisconsin this summer. Krista Strating won the 2014 North American tree climbing championships in California, earlier this month.

Many of us can remember climbing trees as kids. But I will admit I didn’t know tree climbing was a sport. But it is. And Krista is one of the best in the world at it. And she can climb a 60 foot tree in 30 seconds. now, that’s cool.

High above the ground below, 29-year old arborist Krista Strating weaves her way through a Manitoba maple tree in Binbrook.

The work of a professional arborist can be a dangerous: “There’s so many hazards involved in the job so having a safe mentality on everything you do is crucial.”

Krista started out as a landscaper. Her boss said to her one day she looks like she can climb a tree. It’s been six years and she’s never looked back. She says it take a certain kind of person to do this kind of job: “I love being outside, I love working with clients and climbing is pretty sweet.”

Strating has been to the international championships four times. Her highest finish has been an impressive fifth place. “My goal is to always do better than I did before, but thing is you get there and you’ve already won, you’re surrounded with winners.”

And how exactly does a world class tree climber train? “No I don’t train at all — just climbing every day keeps up your strength.”

“This is what we call a swing — I’m gonna swing to that branch over there.”

Five events make up the championship — Strating’s favourite is “work climb”, which is about speed and precision: “They start you at the top of the tree and say go and you swing around and go from station to station completing it.”

And her competition strategy?: Try not to be nervous and confident in the skills that I have.”

Arborists have a unique skill set they take care of trees but have to pay attention to the function and aesthetics involved. Strating works for Arborwood Tree Service and can be seen working in trees from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Oakville.